282 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Cabinet. 

 Advantages of Travel. 



[Philadelphia Farmers' Cabinet, and American Herd-Book, 6:178; 



Jan., 1842] 



[November 22, 1841] 



Worthy Friend. — I believe that you will be gratified 

 to hear that I am once more in the enjoyment of the com- 

 forts of home; for however it may be less splendid than 

 many of the mansions in which I have enjoyed hospitality 

 during the past summer, it is yet a happy home — the 

 home of the wife of my bosom, and the children of our 

 love. It is the home of those who had, for many days 

 before my arrival, been anxiously looking and praying 

 for my safe return ; for at this late season of the year, a 

 voyage around our northern lakes is always attended with 

 anxiety, if not danger. But at length I came in health, 

 and found health, and an abundance of joy! It is good 

 for a man to be separated from his family occasionally, 

 merely to enable him and them to enjoy the great gratifi- 

 cation of meeting after a long absence. 



You will please assure your family, that the joy of 

 meeting my own wife and children, has not crowded out 

 an affectionate remembrance of them, and therefore you 

 will make my best respects to them. I hope it will be 

 long before they do, or wish to, forget their old friend of 

 the Western Prairies. 



My late tour through the United States has formed 

 many links with my heart, that will always vibrate to the 

 tune of sweet and pleasant sensations. I am well per- 

 suaded that I return home a better man than I left; at 

 all events, a wiser one. I have formed a great many new 

 and excellent acquaintances, and I have seen a good share 

 of what every man ought to see — that is his own country, 

 at least before he yearns after foreign ones. My oppor- 

 tunity to learn a great deal that will be useful to me 

 through life, has been greater than many travellers, be- 

 cause my association has been with the nobility of the 



